Category Archives: Overture E-Magazine

The official e-publication of AFM Local 47

Moving Forward Together 

Got a question, a thought, need some information, want to be heard? We are committed to bringing Local 47 to you, opening doors, sharing and listening. Our regular Ask Me Anything series, Friday mornings at 11 a.m. is one way in which we are trying to invent space for you. We have also launched what we hope will be a monthly series of informational panels, beginning with our Health Care Panel on March 16th, featuring our Vice President and Local 47 Health and Welfare Fund Trustee John Acosta, Flex Plan Trustee Pete Anthony, and Flex Plan Administrator Sean Dugan. We are already planning a presentation by the Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund in April. And shortly we will be rolling out a survey of all Local 47 members to ask what topics or presentations you would like to see. 

We are currently interviewing candidates for Local 47 Director of Organizing and are happy to report that we have already interviewed several candidates who we would be thrilled to bring on board. The challenges that we face with our building in Burbank, the opportunities for organizing musicians and employment, and the needs we have for legislative and public policy support in Sacramento are all endeavors that can only move forward with a skilled, experienced organizing leader. Stay tuned! 

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Marching into New Horizons: Your Union Spaces, Your Future

This March, as the season of renewal blooms, so do new opportunities at Local 47. March is nationally recognized as Music in Our Schools Month, a time when we celebrate the transformative power of music education and recommit ourselves to nurturing the next generation of artists. In that spirit, we are opening a new chapter for our rehearsal rooms and recording studio. These are not simply rooms with four walls and a piano in the corner. They are your creative headquarters, your laboratory, and your launchpad.

Our rehearsal facilities are available not only for ensemble run-throughs, but for private teaching, tutoring sessions, sectional rehearsals, audition prep, and master classes. If you’ve been teaching out of your living room or renting inconsistent outside spaces, consider bringing that work home to your union. These rooms are professional, accessible, and designed to serve working musicians. They are ideal for soloists, duos, trios, quartets, and small ensembles looking for a reliable and union-supported environment to grow their craft.

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Strength in Numbers 

Good News! 

Public support for labor unions is on the rise across all generations, according to voter surveys conducted by the Center for American Progress. This good news comes as union membership in the U.S. reached a 16-year high in 2025. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the number of workers covered under union contracts increased to approximately 16.5 million in 2025, up from 16 million in 2024. This marks the highest level of unionized workers since 2009. 

This growing trend occurred even amidst federal attacks on public sector workers. It demonstrates a growing recognition among workers of the power of collective bargaining and the essential need for fair wages, benefits, working conditions and protections that a union provides. We should both celebrate and capitalize on this momentum. 

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Legendary Percussionist Bobbye Hall Speaks Out

AFM Local 47 Member Spotlight

Legendary percussionist and lifetime AFM Local 47 member Bobbye Hall has recorded a variety of rock, soul, blues, jazz, and pop music and has made the Billboard Top 10 many times. She has appeared on magazine covers of DownBeat, Tom Tom, and International Musician, solidifying her reputation as a “liner-note legend.”   

Hall’s exposure to music began very early as a child in Detroit. “My grandfather played what was called ‘bones,’ which is now known as spoons, but they were wooden,” Hall said.” And I still carry them in my percussion kit. My mother would sing around the house. She had a beautiful voice.” 

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SLRA Negotiations Report

Local 47, RMA, and AFM Rank-and-File Representative to the Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SLRA) Negotiations, Caleb Vaughn, has provided the following update.

“As musicians working under this labor agreement, we must prioritize modernized payment and record-keeping systems that ensure accuracy, transparency, and timely compensation.  

We also need meaningful educational resources that equip musicians and producers to better understand the sound recording business and its evolving landscape. Clear contractual language must prohibit the unethical use of artificial intelligence and safeguard human artistry.  

Finally, our work should translate into reasonable, accessible, and truly usable healthcare contributions that support the long-term wellbeing of the musicians who power this industry.” 

Why We Organize

The following column is by Allen Fogle, President of the Recording Musicians Association.

I came up as a recording musician in an industry powered by our labor and creativity. Like many of you, I learned early that talent and professionalism are only part of what sustains a career.

What ultimately makes the difference is working under fair, enforceable standards, and being part of a union strong enough to advance them.

That understanding led me to rank-and-file activism, union leadership, and it now brings me to my new role as International President of the Recording Musicians Association.

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An Important Update About the Local 47 Jazz Festival

This April, Local 47 will not be holding a jazz festival at our offices in Burbank. This decision was not taken lightly, and we know this series has become important to our membership. Local 47 is committed to bringing back an MPTF-sponsored Jazz Festival; our goals are to remodel the application process to ensure fairness across our membership, to expand attendance to larger swaths of the community, and to continue upholding the highest level of musicianship.  

But, an important reminder: these funds are still available to you through the Music Performance Trust Fund, every month of every year. At any time, Local 47 members can apply for the MPTF to cover a percentage of the musician wages – up to 100%! – for your live, free and public concerts. For more information, please contact diane.lauerman@afm47.org.  

Scam Alert! 

Please be on alert for a current scam targeting AFM Local 47 members 

involving fraudulent voiceover job offers. 

Be cautious of any emails claiming to have obtained your information from the Local 47 Directory. These messages typically include a job offer and may even specify a payment amount. 

If you have any questions, please contact us at 323-462-2161. 

Remember, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it likely is. 

Life Member Richard Feves Remembered

Life member Richard Feves, bassist, pianist, accordionist, composer, and arranger, died Sunday, November 23, 2025, in Santa Monica, California. He was 76 years old. 

Richard had a long career as a double bassist in Los Angeles, logging well over 1,000 recording sessions for motion pictures, television, and records. In addition to his recording work, he performed live with artists ranging from Leopold Stokowski to Jerry Garcia. 

Richard began his musical journey on piano and accordion at age five, but it was an invitation from his cousin, Julie Feves (bassoon AFM Local 47), to attend the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan, that led him to take up the double bass. After Interlochen, Richard secured a position with the Portland Symphony Orchestra (now the Oregon Symphony) while finishing high school. After graduating high school, he moved to New York City to attend The Juilliard School, where he studied double bass with Stuart Sankey. 

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Congratulations 2026 GRAMMY Nominees!

Congratulations to everyone whose work can be heard on the 68th Annual GRAMMY-nominated tracks and albums, recorded under AFM union contracts filed with Local 47! Listen to our #AFM47 Grammys 2026 YouTube Playlist while browsing the list below.

AFM 47 Grammys 2026 Playlist AFM 2026 Grammy Nominees